Vehicle attrition rates: Does somebody keep these stats? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

FinnJohn · #1 10-01-2010, 07:32 PM

I was noticing today how much more common 123s seem now than they were 10 or 20 years ago, and realized it's probably because they have a higher survival rate than, say, Chevy Celebrities or Relient Ks. In other words, if 20 years ago 0.1 percent of 1979s were Mercs, today it's more like 2 percent.

Got me to thinking. I'd love to have a spreadsheet with the attrition rate of different cars on the road -- the number of a particular type of car that's still licensed, expressed as a percentage of the number originally bought.

???

Jeremy5848 · #2 10-01-2010, 08:08 PM

Great idea. Please share your results with the forum.

ah-kay · #3 10-01-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinnJohn

I was noticing today how much more common 123s seem now than they were 10 or 20 years ago, and realized it's probably because they have a higher survival rate than, say, Chevy Celebrities or Relient Ks. In other words, if 20 years ago 0.1 percent of 1979s were Mercs, today it's more like 2 percent.

Got me to thinking. I'd love to have a spreadsheet with the attrition rate of different cars on the road -- the number of a particular type of car that's still licensed, expressed as a percentage of the number originally bought.

???

It does not make sense. Car population is going up yearly. W123 population is depleting due to old age or rust. How can the % be going up? You perceive it is going up because you notice them more.

There is more important things to think about in this world.

JB3 · #4 10-01-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

There is more important things to think about in this world.

how necessary.

Why be obnoxious? I think you missed his point. I think hes talking about a statistical analysis comparing cars still being driven from the year 1979. When he says the % is going up, I believe he means percentage of 1979 cars still out there being driven. He's right, since so many contemporary vehicles from the same year are now gone, and so many 1979 MBs are still DDs, they probably DO represent a far higher percentage than they did of total vehicles sold that year remaining in service.

FinnJohn, seems like you need some DMV stats. I always see these vehicle ads where the car companies talk about the percentage of cars still on the road from new, so the data must be available. Would be an interesting comparison to look at. I bet you a comparison like that is lurking around MB somewhere already.

69shovlhed · #5 10-02-2010, 12:46 AM

he's right, but it's quite simple. virtually every car built in 79 was a pos right from the factory. the 123 was one of the very few good cars built then. the other cars worth having would have been the kind that spend all of their time parked in a garage under a cover. and there really wasn't many of those to begin with.

compress ignite · #6 10-02-2010, 01:45 AM

Absolutely the Last Thing (Preferably,just after you're DEAD) Car Makers want
you to think about,ESPECIALLY Detroit.

Be interesting 15 years from now to see the number of W210s and W211s still
running versus the W124s.

ah-kay · #7 10-02-2010, 02:35 AM

Well, may be I missed the point. But I can give you some stats as of writing.

I go to eBay right now and the number of cars for sale is 54641 and out of those, 3477 are MBZ. That means the % of MBZ cars among all cars is about 6.4%.

For 1979 year cars, the total for sale is 279 and 21 of them are MBZ. So it is 7.5%.

For 1980 year cars, the total for sale is 178 and 15 are MBZ. So it is 8.4%.

This is not very scientific but it is obvious that vintage MBZ % is going up. Also you would be surprised by the % of old Chevrolet for sale. Chevy survive well. About 25% but it does not mean they are a better car.

69shovlhed · #8 10-02-2010, 09:09 AM

for the years you mention, the chevies were all turd buckets. and i'm a chevy guy from way back. the camaros were still ok, but you had to trash the stock engine cause it was junk, and basically overhaul the whole car to have anything good. corvette was a joke, and double butt ugly. thank god they had dropped the Chevelle name from the travesty they called a "malibu". that was a fag mobile since 1973. their cars looked so awful by that time i suspect their engineers wore mismatched socks, plaid pants and polka dot shirts, and thought they were on the cutting edge of style. i think gm had about 40% of the domestic market at that time. prolly thought they were invincible.

pawoSD · #9 10-02-2010, 09:09 AM

MB has claimed before that something like 85%+ of their cars they have ever built are still on the road.

Toyota has made a similar claim saying that 90%+ of Toyotas over 10 years old are still on the roads.

69shovlhed · #10 10-02-2010, 09:12 AM

toyotas are hard to kill if you take care of em. boring as hell, but they hold up.

compu_85 · #11 10-02-2010, 09:45 AM

80s Toyotas are usually not taken off the roads in MI due to driveline faults, it's usually due to rust.

-J

Biodiesel300TD · #12 10-02-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinnJohn

I was noticing today how much more common 123s seem now than they were 10 or 20 years ago, and realized it's probably because they have a higher survival rate than, say, Chevy Celebrities or Relient Ks. In other words, if 20 years ago 0.1 percent of 1979s were Mercs, today it's more like 2 percent.

Got me to thinking. I'd love to have a spreadsheet with the attrition rate of different cars on the road -- the number of a particular type of car that's still licensed, expressed as a percentage of the number originally bought.

???

Finn I think we live in a Diesel MB haven. There are a ton or old diesel Mercedes and VWs running around this area. It's all because of the biodiesel and VO craze. I can't drive anywhere in Corvallis without seeing at least one other diesel Benz. Mostly 123's but lots of 115s, 116s, and 126s. Many times on my way home I can see as many as 3 or 4. I think we live in an area that has more diesel MB's per capita than many other parts of the country. I agree that there seem to be a lot more pre 80's Mercedes running around than pre 80's American cars for sure.

FinnJohn · #13 10-02-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

Finn I think we live in a Diesel MB haven. There are a ton or old diesel Mercedes and VWs running around this area. It's all because of the biodiesel and VO craze. I can't drive anywhere in Corvallis without seeing at least one other diesel Benz. Mostly 123's but lots of 115s, 116s, and 126s. Many times on my way home I can see as many as 3 or 4. I think we live in an area that has more diesel MB's per capita than many other parts of the country. I agree that there seem to be a lot more pre 80's Mercedes running around than pre 80's American cars for sure.

Yeh, there do seem to be lots, in the whole valley. And of course the lack of road salt keeps the bodies more or less intact a lot longer too. Which suggests to me that maybe it would be really hard to control for all the variables in this. It would still be an interesting stat to have.

Hey Andrew, I'm teaching at OSU now. We should get together for coffee sometime.